THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, February 10, 1996 TAG: 9602100254
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY CATHERINE KOZAK, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: MANTEO LENGTH: Medium: 95 lines
Dare County has outgrown its public safety communications system, the county's communications director told commissioners Friday.
More emergency personnel are using the radio system each year, and the additional services provided for the steadily growing population are flooding the system, Debbie Remaley said during the meeting.
To handle such extra demand, Remaley asked the board for $17,250 to hire a consultant to determine the needs of Dare County's public safety communications system.
Speaking on behalf of the Radio Study Group, an ad hoc committee of representatives from towns and emergency service providers, Remaley said the county needs an easy-to-use system that interlinks and expands communications between safety personnel and agencies.
``We have a countywide system now,'' she said. ``We've just outgrown it. It's not meeting our needs.''
Findings determined by emergency personnel surveyed by the Radio Group include:
Dead spots must be eliminated on the airwaves;
Frequencies must be added;
The number of radios must be increased;
Portable-to-portable equipment coverage must be expanded throughout the county;
Mobile data terminals should be provided;
Telephone access to the communications system should be improved.
``Our system consists of such a mish-mosh of parts,'' said Commissioner Clarence Skinner, who participated in the study group. ``We know we've got a problem. We just can't scope the problem. It's so big.''
Municipalities in the county are expected to pick up the other half of the $34,500 consultant fee at a cost of $3,450 each. As of Friday, Manteo and Kill Devil Hills had given tentative approval to contributing their share of the funds. The other towns had already agreed to chip in.
Commissioners Shirley Hassell and Joseph ``Mac'' Midgett balked at approving the expenditure until all the towns signed on. But the commission ruled against them, 5-2, to appropriate the funds contingent on the towns' contributions.
Skinner said towns would be slitting their own throats if they didn't join the effort.
``If they want to cut themselves off and drop in the ocean, that's their business,'' he said. ``If a handful decides not to participate, we can't allow them to drag the county down.''
About four years ago, the county had hired another communications consultant. But the firm had problems and the contract was dropped, said David Cowan, who was communications director for the Sheriff's Department at the time.
Cowan, now the county jail administrator, said the consultant had completed only 10 percent of the work. But he was able to determine the state of the coaxial cables and antennas on the radio towers within the county. ``It turned out to be very valuable,'' Cowan said of the study.
Remaley said the planning consultant firm Hayes, Seay, Mattern & Mattern in Roanoke should have a report completed 120 days after the study begins. She said she hopes the work can start by June, before the height of the tourist season. The final report will be submitted to all government bodies, she added.
In other business Friday, the Dare County Board of Commissioners:
Approved an initial application of need for a dialysis unit at the Outer Banks Medical Center. The service would require its own building and could cost between $300,000 and $600,000. Dare County Board of Commissioners Chairman Robert V. ``Bobby'' Owens Jr., said eight year-round Dare County residents depend on dialysis units, but many more summer visitors also would benefit from such a service.
Announced that Raleigh attorney Glenn Dunn has been hired to represent Dare County in the lawsuit against the state over the sandbags on N.C. Route 12 on Hatteras Island. The matter is scheduled to be heard Feb. 23 at the Dare County courthouse.
Released a seven-page report detailing expenditures for the operation ``Season's Greetings.'' The cost of the drug sting totaled $6,217.49 for agents' operating expenses; $488.56 in miscellaneous expenditures; $1,820 in mileage for a rental vehicle; $12,147 to buy drugs; $9,244.89 in pay for confidential informants; and $4,227.86 in campaign fees for the drug bust. < ILLUSTRATION: Graphic
Jerry Allen hired
Dare County officials announced Friday that they hired Jerry Allen
as director of parks and recreation.
Allen is the executive director of the Elizabeth City Housing
Authority and formerly was Camden County's manager. He succeeds
Johnny Tillett, who resigned from the county post last year. Allen
will join the county full time March 15.
During 1995, more than 10,000 people participated in the county's
parks and recreation programs.
KEYWORDS: APPOINTMENT by CNB